A memorial service to celebrate the life of Pierre Barnes, the 12 year old from Lincolnshire who drowned on holiday on a French island, is behing held today. It's organised by the primary school where Pierre was a pupil for his friends, staff and parents at Barrowby Church near Grantham.

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A memorial service is being held on Monday for Grantham schoolboy Pierre Barnes, who died whilst on holiday with his family in France. The 12 year old disappeared during a fierce storm on the island of Pourquerolles.

His body was found days later at sea. The service is to be held at All Saints Church in Barrowby. Children from King's school in Grantham, where Pierre was a pupil, are expected to attend, along with Pierre's family and members of the local community.

The funeral was held today for a boy from Lincolnshire who drowned while on a family holiday on a French island. Pierre Barnes, from Grantham, vanished in a storm while cycling on Porquerolles. His body was found six days later.

The 12-year-old's mother is French and the service was held at the same church where he was baptised, in a village south of Paris.

The classmates of a boy from Lincolnshire who died on holiday in France will be offered counselling as the return to school.

Pierre Barnes with his parents

12-year-old Pierre Barnes was on a half-term break with his parents in the South of France. He went missing during a storm on the island of Porquerolles whilst out for a bike ride. His body was found in water five days later.

Pupils returning to the King's School in Grantham today will be given access to counselling and silences will be held during assemblies.

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A French news agency reported that a boy's body was found by bathers in the water south of Porquerolles at around 5pm. Toulon prosecutor Xavier Tarabeux told Agence France Presse (AFP): "The body matches that of the young boy who went missing on Saturday."

He said the physical appearance matched as well as the clothes. The agency reported that the body was found by Langoustier bay to the south of the island, not far from where Pierre's bike was discovered.

It said the fire and rescue service have been dispatched to recover the body. Mr Tarabeux told the agency that a post mortem examination would take place as soon as possible.

There are reports that French police searching for 12 year old Pierre Barnes from Grantham who disappeared at the weekend have found a body. Pierre went missing on the island of Porquerolle near Toulon at the start of his half term holiday.

Search teams were brought in from the mainland but could only find his bike and one of his shoes. It is thought that his father has been asked to identify a body.

The search for a Lincolnshire schoolboy who disappeared on a holiday island off the south of France has been scaled down.

12-year-old Pierre Barnes, who was from Grantham, vanished on Saturday after he was caught up in a severe storm during a bike ride on the island of Porquerolles.

His father, Stephen, has admitted he believes his son is dead and said his family now hope that the youngster's body is found. The search was called off yesterday because of bad weather but has resumed again today with fewer people involved.